Swimming headgear

ABSTRACT

The swimming headgear comprises a protective head covering member. This member may consist essentially of a substantially semi-rigid plastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual, or a plastic bonnet, or both. Head-contacting peripheral means substantially excludes environmental water from entrance under the covering member. Preferred head-contacting peripheral means comprises a substantially water-tight seal structure including a flexible conformable plastic film shaped into a tubular chamber and a porous deformable and resilient organic plastic body strip extending throughout the tubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin. Details of the illustrated sheath include eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodating portion, with lateral perimeter portions of the sheath contoured toward temple areas of a user individual. Each eye portion comprises outer and inner plate members. The outer plate member extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portion or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;temple&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; portion adjacent the eye portion. The outer plate member has transparent eyevision area. The inner plate member is equipped with an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area and form a visual border thereabout. Between the plate members, and formed by the plate members, is an internal annular channel recess. It extends peripherally outward from the eye-vision area, and particularly extends as a contoured recess laterally rearward within the sheath toward the temple area. The channel recess is adapted to serve as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in the recess for use while swimming to slosh over the eye-vision area to clear it of fog. The contour of the channel recess is such that the sloshing water does not migrate over the eye vision area during normal head movements, except a head movement in a downward looking stance. The nature of the water reservoir recess, especially at the temple area, permits upside down swimming substantially without the annoyance of water spilling out of the recess onto the eyes.

W DOllglas States Patent [1 1 SWIMMING HEADGEAR [76] Inventor: Donald J.Douglas, 10 Glasgow Rd.,

White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110 [22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:197,691

2,465,998 4/1949 Bowditch 2/68 2,581,007 1/1952 Douglas et al. 2/14 W X2,612,640 10/1952 Palmes 2/14 K 2,705,802 4/1955 Tellier.... 2/14 WX3,394,406 7/1968 Bergens 2/68 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 962,70512/1949 France 2/14 N Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin AssistantExaminerPeter Nerbun Att0meyR0bert C. Baker I 57] ABSTRACT The swimmingheadgear comprises a protective head covering member. This member mayconsist essentially of a substantially semi-rigid plastic sheathstructure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes andnose of an individual, or a plastic bonnet, or both. Head-contactingperipheral means substantially excludes environmental water fromentrance under the 1111 3,755,819 1 Sept. 4, 1973 covering member.Preferred head-contacting peripheral means comprises a substantiallywater-tight seal structure including a flexible conformable plastic filmshaped into a tubular chamber and a porous deformable and resilientorganic plastic body strip extending throughout the tubular chamber andcompletely enclosed therewithin. Details of the illustrated sheath inelude eye accommodating portions on each side of a nose accommodatingportion, with lateral perimeter portions of the sheath contoured towardtemple areas of a user individual. Each eye portion comprises outer andinner plate members. The outer plate member extends from the noseaccommodating portion to the respective lateral sheath perimeter portionor temple portion adjacent the eye portion. The outer plate member hastransparent eye-vision area. The inner plate member is equipped with anopening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-vision area and form avisual border thereabout. Between the plate members, and formed by theplate members, is an internal annular channel recess. It extendsperipherally outward from the eyevision area, and particularly extendsas a contoured recess laterally rearward within the sheath toward thetemple area. The channel recess is adapted to serve as a water reservoirpermitting the wearer of the headgear to preliminarily place a smallamount of water in the recess for use while swimming to slosh over theeye-vision area to clear it of fog. The contour of the channel recess issuch that the sloshing water does not migrate over the eye vision areaduring normal head movements, except a head movement in a downwardlooking stance. The nature of the water reservoir re- .cess, especiallyat the temple area, permits upside down 25 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresSWIMMING HEADGEA'R This invention relates to new and improvedheadgearfor humans to wear while engaging in swiming above or underneath thewater, or while engaging in any variety of water activity.

The invention provides new head-contacting substantially water-tightseal means for swimming headgear; and it also provides newsubstantially-annoyance-free sloshing water reservoirs for clearinginternal fog or mist from eye vision parts of the headgear.

For comfort reasons the nose as well as the eyes (and also the ears) arepreferably protected by swimming headgear. However, a major problem withheadgear of this type is thatof fog or mist accumulating on internalsurfaces of the transparent eye-vision portions. Mild breadth movementin and out of the nose contributes to such fogging or misting; and warmbody perspiration alone can generate sufficient moisture to causefogging as the warm moisture vapor condenses on the cooler internalsurfaces of the headgear. The internal coating of fog obscures visionand must be removed. While it is conveniently removed by sloshing waterover the fogged surface, no heretofore known headgear permits suchsloshing to take place without creating other problems, especially theproblem of discomfort arising as a result of some of the sloshing waterhittingthe users eyes. The storage of sloshing water inside prior artheadgear is not such as to substantially confine the sloshing waterduring normal head movements as common in water play (such assomersaults, barrel rolls, upside-down swimming or swimming on onesback, and the like). Roaming of sloshing water can create annoyance anddistraction and an obstruction to vision equal to the problem of theunwanted fog or mist on the interior transparent eye covering surfacesof headgear.

By employing teachings of this invention, sloshing water is contained inreservoirs within the headgear and thereby substantially confined inmovement except when the underwater swimmer bends his head to look down.By bending his head to look down, and then moving or shaking his head(back and forth; or up and down) in any direction while maintaining hishead in a substantially downward-looking stance, the swimmer causes thesloshing water to leave the reservoirs and move back and forth (or upand down) across the interior of the transparent eye covering surface toremove accumulated fog or mist therefrom.

, An important point to be made is that this invention is not primarilydirected to improvements in highly expensive and sophisticatedunderwater headgear (although teachings hereof may be used in makingsuch headgear), but instead is primarily directed to the economicalvariety of headgear of popular concern for use in recreational pursuits.A variety of different styles of headgear may be made incorporatingteachings hereof.

Underwater headgear incorporating the new seal means hereof comprises,as the basic part of the structure, a protective covering member for atleast a portion of the head of an individual. This protective coveringmember may consist essentially of a semi-rigid plastic sheath structureadapted to be placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of anindividual. It may also include a hair-covering organic plastic bonnet,either alone or fixed to a plastic eye-covering sheath. The plasticbonnet may be formed of flexible stretchable plastic or a semi-rigidplastic, either opaque or transparent. The bonnet may include apie-shaped flexible expansion insert and a zipper closure. In the caseof the bonnet approach, the peripheral edge portion of the total headcovering generally will extend along a line about the head of theindividual approximately defined as a line across the upper lip, belowthe. ears, and across the nape. of the neck of the individual.

Atperipheraledge portions of the selected protective head coveringmember extends the substantially watertight seal means of the invention.The seal is adapted to conform to a variety of head contours.Thestructure of the. seal includes a flexible comfortable plastic filmin the shape of atubular member or chamber extending about (or alignedwith and affixed to) peripheral edge portions of the head covering.Within this tubular chamber extends a porous deformable and resilientorganic rubbery plasticbody strip. The body strip is preferably unitary;and it extends substantially throughout the tubular chamber. and iscompletely enclosed within the tubular chamber. Optionally, butpreferably, a strap member may be fixed in alignment over the exterioror outer part of the body strip (either directly upon the exterior. ofthe body strip or exterior to the closed chamber, but over the bodystrip) for increasing pressure upon the body strip to press it againstportions of the head contacted by the seal means; and this strip membermay consist essentially of an elastic band. The interior of the tubularchamber is itself sealed or closed against open passage communicationwith water or air environment exterior thereto. It, however, may beequipped with valve means, to provide an openable and closeable passagefor pneumatic inflation of it to a higher degree of air pressure than atatmospheric condition. A suitable valve comprises a flexible tubeaffixed at one end for communication with the interior of the tubularchamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube upon itself afteroral inflation of the tubular chamber.

In this sea] structure, the porous plastic body strip is always actingas a resilient cushion pressing the tubular chamber against the head orfacial contour of the user individual. This is true whether or not lossof inflation air within the tubular member takes place accidentallyduring underwater activity. Of course, a practical point is that theplastic materials out of which the tubular member is normally formed areinherently not likely to maintain augmented inflation pressures adinfinitum. In this respect, water tight is used herein in a relativesense, in that the practical performance of this new edge seal means ofthe invention, under the shallow water recreational use for which theheadgear of the invention is primarily designed, is entirely effectiveto provide practical protection against unwanted entrance of water.(Illustratively, the headgear may, for example, be used to protect aninfected car while engaged in swimming practice sessions. It may be usedto protect eyes, ears and nose from polluted water. But by far thewidest use is that of comfortably freeing a swimmer of the generalannoyance of water in his eyes, ears, and nose.)

An optional but desirable additional improvement for bonnet-typeheadgear is that of means for pressing into or filling the mandible basedepressions of the human head. These depressions are below the cars atthe base of the jaw. In bonnet headgear, cushioning internal projectionsmay be located interiorly in the bonnet at each portion thereof adaptedto extend across a mandible base depression. The projections are locatedimmediately contiguous to (or as an internal projection from) thetubular chamber; thus they coact with the tubular chamber to augment thesubstantially water-tight seal means of the invention.

Underwater headgear incorporating the new sloshing water reservoirteachings hereof comprises a substantially semi-rigid organic plasticsheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationship as acovering over the eyes and nose of a user individual. Additionally, thisheadgear includes head-contacting peripheral means, or means extendingabout the periphery of the headgear (whether said headgear covers onlythe eye and nose area or also includes a bonnet covering for the hair ofthe head) for substantially excluding environmental water from entranceinto the space between the sheath structure and the eyes and nose of theindividual wearing the headgear.

The sheath structure has lateral eye accommodating portions on each sideof a nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portions ofthe sheath structure contoured toward temple areas of the userindividual. Each eye portion comprises an outer plate member, an innerplate member, and a special channel recess structure. The outer platemember extends from the nose accommodating portion to the respectivelateral sheath perimeter portion adjacent the eye portion; and the outerplate member includes a transparent eyevision area. The inner platemember has an opening therein aligned to coincide over the eye-visionarea. The opening forms a visual border about the eye-vision area asthat area is looked through by the user of the Headgear. Further, theinner plate member has a contour at its perimeter portions for matingwith the outer plate member substantially along perimeter portions ofthe outer plate member. Both plate members are united in a substantiallywater-tight manner at those mated perimeter portions.

An internal annular channel recess extends peripherally outward from theeye-vision area to mated perimeter portions of the plate members. Thischannel recess extends annularly about the eye-vision area, and isdefined by an outer wall consisting of the outer plate member and aninner wall formed by the inner plate member. Portions of the inner platemember bordering the eye-vision area are contoured toward the outerplate member but terminate in space relationship therefrom. Portions ofthe inner plate member contiguous to and peripherally outward from thebordering portions are contoured to be more greatly spaced from theouter plate member than the bordering portions. Thus, the channel recessis wider in contiguous portions than in bordering portions. It extendsas a contoured recess laterally rearward to. the lateral sheathperimeter portion adjacent the eye portion.

The recess serves as a water reservoir permitting the wearer of theheadgear to preliminarily place a small amount of water in a portion ofthe recess. This reservoir water is available for sloshing from oneportion of the recess to another portion thereof across the internalsurface of eye-vision area of the outer plate member to clear the sameof fog as may accumulate thereon during use. The contour of the recessbetween the plate members includes a laterally rearward part extendingtoward the temple perimeter area; and this feature is especiallyadvantageous in terms of substantially holding or confining thereservoir water within the channel recess for all head movements(including those accompanying a somersault, barrel roll, or swimming onones back) other than that of a downward looking stance.

Additional benefits and advantages of the teachings of this inventionwill become evident as the description proceeds. The invention will bedescribed with the aid of a drawing made a part hereof wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one type of headgear accordingto the invention wherein the protective head covering consistsessentially of a composite sheath structure for the eyes and nose;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic perspective crosssectional views taken onlines 22 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of other types ofheadgear, characterized as headgear which cover the entire upper part ofthe head of the individual;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary or broken schematic perspective sectional viewtaken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary broken schematic perspective view of theinterior of a bonnet headgear, showing the approximate location of acushion projection for a mandible base depression;

FIG. 8, is a schematic perspective view of headgear including a flexibleexpansion panel plus a zipper closure; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary perpsective crosssectional view takenon line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1-3, inclusive, the substantially semi-rigid organicplastic sheath structure 10 for the eyes and nose will first bedescribed. This sheath structure has laterally spaced eye accommodatingportions 11 and 11a on each side of a nose accommodating portion 12. Thesheath structure 10 is contoured to form the eye and nose accommodatingportions; and the lateral perimeter portions 13 of the sheath structureare contoured toward temple areas of a user individual.

Each eye accommodating portion 111 and Ila comprises an outer platemember 41 having a transparent eye-vision or look through area 15, plusan inner plate member 16 having an opening therein aligned to coincideover the eye-vision area 15 and form a visual border 17 thereabout.Outer plate member 14 extends from the nose accommodating portion 12(and may be unified or molded to be integral with the nose H2),preferably in a curved contour of generally smooth or gradual character,to the lateral sheath perimeter portion 13 or temple area adjacent theeye portion. Inner plate member 16 is of such contour at its perimeterportions 19, 20 and 21 to mate with the outer plate member 14substanitally along the outer plate perimeter portions (of likenumerical designation in the drawing). These perimeter portions may varyin contour, but are united in a substantially water-tight manner.

Additionally, each eye accommodating portion includes an internalannular channel recess 18, which is located interiorly of the outerplate member 14. It extends peripherally outward from the eye-visionarea to the perimeter mating portions 19, 20, and 21.

Each channel recess 18 is defined by an outer wall consisting of outerplate member 14 and an inner wall consisting of inner plate member 16.POrtions of inner plate member 16 which border eye-vision area 15 arecontoured toward without touching) outer plate member 14. Borderportions 17 terminate in spaced relationship from outer plate member 14.They thus form the visual borders 17 about eye-vision areas 15. Thespacing is preferably just sufficient to allow a film of water (about ahalf cubic centimeter per eye portion) to move on the interior surfaceof the outer plate member 14 without contacting the border edge 17 ofthe interior or inner plate member 16. lllustratively, this spacing mayvary from a lower limit of approximately one-eighth inch or a couplemillimeters up to an upper distance as great as possibly a half inch orabout one centimeter. It is preferable, however, that the spacing beminimal; normally no greater than about one-fourth inch or about a halfcentimeter.

Contiguous to and peripherally outward from border portions 17 is anenlarged reservoir or space 18 between the inner 16 and outer 14 platemembers. Reservoir 18 is formed by contouring the portion of the innerplate member 16 contiguous to the bordering portion 17 so that thecontiguous portion is more greatly spaced from the outer plate member 14than the border part 17. Reservoir recess 18 is open or accessible alongthe periphery of the interior surface of the eye-vision area 15. Channelrecess 18 extends in a peripherally outward direction from an eye-visionarea to the mating perimeter portions 19, 20, and 21. The sealing oruniting of plate members 14 and 16 at such perimeter portions may beaccomplished by any suitable means, such as by heat, dielectric means,special adhesives, intermediate films or bands as unifiers, or by anyother suitable technique involving the formation of a substantiallywater-tight joint or union.

Channel recess 18 extends laterally rearward toward the lateral sheathperimeter portion 13 (which is at the location of the temple area forseal 19 between the inner and outer plate members). This rearwardextension of recess 18 provides a rearward extending pocket for sloshingwater to flow to as a swimmer engages in somersaults or swimming on hisback. Recess 18 is not cylindrically symetrical, but is insteadasymetrical and equipped with a temple pocket.

A practical method for manufacturing the semi-rigid organic plasticsheath structure as a composite is that of forming first a semi-rigidouter plate as a unitary member for the entire expanse of the sheath,with the nose-accommodating portion 13 molded in it and with theperipheral or perimeter portions of the plate l4 contoured forapproximate fitting toward those facial areas characterized as lying ina line approximately running underneath the nose (or across the upperlip), below cheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows acrossthe forehead. The main body of the unitary outer plate 14, particularlyin the eye accommodating portions thereof, bulges outwardly fromperipheral edge portions 19; and the nose accommodating portion bulgesoutwardly in an approximate shape for the nose. The contour of the outerplate member across the eyes is preferably curved gradually, but mayoptionally be substantially flat at least over the eye-vision area. Eacheye accommodating portion, over the eyevision areas or portions thereof,may be perfectly flat and lie in a single plane across both eye-visionareas. Preferably, however, the outer plate or sheet member will becurved gradually in the eye accommodating portion so as to avoid theprojection of those portions outwardly as would be required where botheye accommodating portions lie in a single plane across the eyes. Partsof the outer plate 14 other than the eye-vision areas 15 may, ifdesired, be formed of opaque or pigmented or colored,.plastic. At leastthe eye-vision areas 15 of the outer plate M are transparent (but may becolor tinted or'polarized similarly to sun glasses). Preferably, theentire plate 14 is formed of substantially clear transparent organicplastic such as, for example, semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride material,acrylic-type polymers including polymethyl methacrylate, butyratepolymersincluding cellulose acetate butyrate, polycarbonates, or anysuitable transparent organic plastic material of substantiallysemi-rigid shatter-resistant optically transparent character atthicknesses varying from about a tenth millimeter up to possibly 2, oreven 5 or more, millimeters. As used herein, semi-rigid refers to ashape retaining structure which optionally may be flexible enought to beslightly bent or temporarily altered in shape, but which, upon releaseof distortion or bending forces, will return substantially to itsoriginal shape.

The inner plate 16 for the entire sheath structure may likewise beformed as a unitary sheet or plate structure of semirigid character,although it suitably may be formed of somewhat more flexible (or moreplasticized) organic plastic than the outer plate member 14. A noseaccommodating portion may be formed or molded in the inner plate orsheet 16. While a single unitary inner plate 16 may be used, it isnevertheless preferable to form the annular channel recesses 18 abouteye-visionareas 15 as discrete or separate entities not in communicationwith eachother. Thus, a recess perimeter seal line or lines 20* and 21should separate the recesses at the nose area. (If water from oneannular channel recess 18 were permitted to flow between unitary inner16 and unitary outer M plates across the nose portion into the recess 11for the other eye-vision area, the added build up of water in the recessfor one eye portion would greatly increase the likelihook of spillageout of the recess onto ones eyes.)

Preferably, the inner plate member 16 for each eye accommodating portionis formed as a separate unit. Where this is done, the portion of theinner plate proximate to the base of the projection for the nose accommodating portion of the outer sheet is contoured to meet the base of thenose accommodating portion and then sealed at the juncture, whichjuncture, for illustrative purposes, is about at numeral 211 in FIGS. 1and 3. Likewise, the portion of such separate inner plate members 16extending along an edge 21 of the bridge of the nose (from the upperpart of the nose to the top of the sheath structure) is contoured towardthe outer plate member 14 and sealed to it at edge 21. This struc tureseparates the water reservoir 18 for each eye accommodating portion sothat water does not transfer from one to the other reservoir 18.

Optionally, inner platev structure 16 can be formed as a unitarystructure for a nose portion plus both eye accommodating portions, withouter plate formed as a unitary structure except for omitting the noseprojectrated mating perimeter parts 19, 20, and 21. The importantfeature to retain, however, is the large water recess 18 having thecritical rearward extension toward the temple area.

Where the protective head covering member for the headgear consistsessentially of a plastic sheath structure for the eyes and nose, thehead contacting peripheral means 22 for substantially excluding waterwill extend about the perimeter of the sheath itself. This headcontacting peripheral means is employed to substantially excludeenvironmental water from entrance between the sheath structure and theeyes and nose of the individual. Preferably, this head contactingperipheral means comprises the substantially water-tight tubular chamberseal means of this invention.

The tubular substantially water-tight seal means includes a flexibleconformable plastic film in the shape of a closed tubular chamber 23extending about and fixed to the peripheral edge portions of aprotective covering member, which in the case of FIGS. 1 3, inclusive,consists of sheath 10.

A foamed porous deformable and resilient organic rubbery plastic bodystrip 24 extends substantially throughout the interior of the closedtubular chamber. This body strip 24 is completely enclosed within thetubular member or chamber 23. Also, body strip 24 is preferably aunitary strip (as distinguished from plural chunks of resilient plasticenclosed within tubular member 23); and preferably the width of the bodystrip is at least a half centimeter up to about 2 or even 3 centimeters,with a thickness of at least about a quarter or even a half centimeterup to about 1 or 2 centimeters. It is normally wider than it is thick,and may be oval or substantially rectangular in cross section.Opitonally, the body strip 24 may be, if desired, unified to theinterior surface of the tubular member 23, either to the entire interiorsurface thereof, or at a band section along the length of the tube.Indeed, if desired, the central interior of the body strip may be openas an elongated passage. But the walls of the tubular member 23 areclosed in use to bar open passage communication from its interior toenvironment exterior thereto. It may be permanently sealed to close offany such open passage communication; but alternately, valve meansopenable for inflating it may be present. The material forming tubularchamber 23 is substantially water-impervious.

The portion of the tubular chamber 23 sealed to peripheral edge portions19 of the sheath structure may consist of a common wall with thematerial forming peripheral edge areas of the sheath structure. Thus,tubular chamber 23 may be formed by using a flexible plastic strip andlongitudinally sealing it along edges of it to the internal surface ofperipheral areas of the plastic sheath. Thus, one wall or side of thetubular chamber 23 is formed of the material forming the peripheral edgeareas of the plastic sheath itself. Preferably, however, tubular member23 is preformed as a tube chamber and sealed to perimeter edges of thesheath, suitably with a flexible connector strip between it and thesheath, as hereinafter explained.

Tubular chamber 23, with its internal resilient body strip 24, deformsto conform to facial or head contours when the headgear is fitted uponan individual about to engage in swimming. Thus, it always providescushioning contact pressures serving as a barrier to water entrance, anddoes not in any way depend upon water absorption into the body strip 24for this barrier effect.

The flexible plastic film used to form tubular member 23 may beplasticized polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethanes, or anyof a variety of flexible plastic.film materials, including rubberymaterials. Even materials which exhibit somewhat significant vaportransmission rates at the thin thickness (e.g., l or 2 mils up to about10 or 20 or even possibly 50 mils thickness) most practical to employfor the tubular member can be satisfactory. For the porous body strip24, foamed polyurethane synthetic rubbery polymers are excellent.However, any number of other synthetic or natural rubbery materials maybe compounded and foamed to exhibit the conformability and resiliencynecessary for a cushion against various contours of the head.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an elastic flexible band 25, or other strapmember adjustable to head-size, is suitably fixed to the compositeplastic sheath structure 10 by fastening means 26 located near thetemple areas of the sheath structure. Snap fasteners, buckles or thelike may be employed. Alternately, the ends of a flexible elastic band25 may be permanently anchored at the temple areas.

In the headgear illustrated in FIG. 4, a semirigid organic plasticsheath structure 10 is employed, plus a flexible organic plastic filmbonnet covering 27 for the head. Flexible bonnets may be formed out offilm material such as aforediscussed for the tubular chamber 23. Thebonnet is fixed to perimeter edges of the plastic sheath structure (atleast the upper or top part and temple portions of the sheath structure)by any suitable seal means. The peripheral edge portion of thiscomposite protective head covering extends along a line about the headof the individual defined as a line across the upper lip, below theears, and across the nape of the neck. The head-contacting peripheraledge portion of this head covering may comprise an elastic band 28 fixedto the lower peripheral edge portion of the head covering. Suitably, anedge of the elastic band 28 may be sealed to the film material formingthe bonnet. It is preferable to employ a narrow stretch (such as aquarter or half centimeter) of the flexible bonnet film underneath oralong the bottom of the plastic sheath structure 10 and then seal anedge of the elastic band 28 to that narrow strip of film. Alternately,an elastic band may be enclosed within a tubular roll at the peripheraledge of the composite headcovering. Or belt loops may be employed forretaining an elastic band over peripheral portions of the compositeheadcovermg.

In FIGS. 5 7, inclusive, and FIG. 9, the illustrated headgear again(analogous to FIG. 4) comprises a protective headcovering memberincluding a sheath structure for the eyes and nose (as, for example,sheath structure 10) and a plastic bonnet 29. In this structure, thepreferred substantially watertight seal means of this invention extendsalong the peripheral or perimeter edge areas of the structure. This sealmeans includes the tubular chamber 23 and internal porous and resilientbody strip 24, as aforediscussed. Also, at the portion of thisheadcovering along the bottom edge of a sheath 10, a narrow strip 40 offlexible plastic film is employed as the connecting means to attach thetubular chamber 23 to the bottom of the sheath 10. This is done inpreference to direct attachment of the tubular chamber 23 to theinterior of the bottom edge of the sheath 10 for the reason that greatercomfort is realized when slight adjustments of the sheath with'respectto the peripheral seal are possible. The sheath it) must be in closecontact with head areas (such as upper lip facial areas) of a user; butit need not be placed in any special pressure contact. Slightadjustability of the semi-rigid sheath with respect to the peripheralseal chamber 23 contributes to comfort. Also, if desired, a narrow stripof padding, or intermitant patches of padding, may be attached atperimeter areas of the sheath for comfort reasons or as minimal spacersto keep the sheath from direct pressing contact upon forehead, temple orlip areas. But it also is important to maintain the tubular chamber sealmeans 23 as close as possible to the bottom peripheral edge of thesheath lit), preferably without obstructing the nostrils for breathing.This is necessary so that the tubular chamber seal 23 will rest alongthe upper lip area, below the nose, instead of being so far down fromthe bottom edge of the sheath that it tends to ride or slide into themouth of a user individual. Mild nostril breathing is thus permitted,which relieves panic.

As shown in FIG. 6, an inch or so of the portion of the perimeter of aflexible bonnet adapted to pass over the nape of the neck of anindividual may be left free of the substantially water-tight tubularseal means; and when this approach is employed, the rear bonnet portionfree of that tubular member 23 is folded in use to pull the ends of thetubular member 23 into abutting relationship. Then, they are held inthat relationship on the head of a user by a supplemental belt 30 orband (preferably elastic) which is aligned exteriorly over the tubularmember 23 and held in position, as by belt loops 3ll (see FIG. 5).

Altemately, an elastic belt or strap 30 may be substanitally permanentlyadhesively attached or otherwise united along a longitudinal mediallocation over the outer part of porous resilient body strip 24 (eitherdirectly attached to an elastic and resilient body strip and thereforelocated inside tubular chamber 23 with the body strip 24 or indirectlyattached as by securing it with flexible adhesive over the outer surfaceof tubular chamber 23in a position as illustrated in FIG. 5 and 6). Asupplemental elastic strip increases the pressure of the body stripagainst portions of a users head contacted by the tubular chamber sealmeans; and the increased pressure contributes to improvement of thesubstantial water-tightness of the contact. The elastic belt 30 maysuitably be a continuous band (with a porous and resilient body strip 24likewise as a continuous band) where the bonnet is formed of elasticflexible film material. Altemately, especially when a structure asillustrated in FIG. 8 is employed, the elastic belt may be of a discretelength and joined together by a hook or buckle means after the bonnet ispositioned on ones head.

Optional valve means 32 (see FIG. 6) may be incorporated in the wall ofthe tubular member 23 to permit pneumatic inflation of the tubularmember to a higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.A suitable valve 32 consists essentially of a small flexible plastictube affixed at one end for communication with the interior of thetubular member 23 and adapted to be closed by folding the tube uponitself after oral inflation of the tubular member. The outermost end ofthe tube valve member may be inserted, after folding, in a pocketspecially provided to hold the tube in folded condition after oralinflation; but it is quite suitable to merely fold the flexible tubevalve 32 after oral inflalitllt tion and fix the headgear upon oneselfso that the tubular valve 32 is pressed in folded condition against thenape of the neck during use.

Also, special supplementary means for cushion filling of the mandiblebase depressions in the human head may be employed. lllustratively,cushioning internal projections may be placed inside the bonnet portionsat the approximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible basedepressions. Each cushioning projection may be formed by providing apocket 33 of flexible plastic inside the bonnet, in contiguousrelationship to tubular chamber 23, or so as to extend at leastpartially over or upon the internal head-contacting surface of tubularchamber 23. A removable and adjustable resilient foam or porous rubberyplastic flller body 34 (see FIG. 7) is provided as a cushioning memberfor insertion inside the pocket. A user may adhesively secure the fillerbody 34 inside the pocket at the precise location needed to fill hismandible base depressions.

The particular adhesive chosen to fix a filler body 34, in position, aswell as the particular adhesive chosen to fix an elastic band to pressupon a body strip 24, will vary depending upon the particular plasticmaterial or materials to which adhesion is desired. Illustrativeadhesives are pressure sensitive adhesives, especially of the acrylictype, vinyl rubber adhesives, and a variety of rubbery elastic contactcements.

Where desired, a breathing valve such as described in Douglas et-al U.S. Pat. No. 2,581,007 may be incorporated in the headgear.

A further optional bonnet feature is that of an expansion panel asillustrated in H6. 8;, The bonnet may be equipped with a flexiblepie-shpaed (i.e., substantially triangular) flap or flexible expansioninsert 35 (analogous to an overshoe expansion insert). The insertpreferably extends from a location exterior to the peripheral area orperimeter edge of the bonnet to a medial area of the bonnet (suitablynear the crown portion of ones head). The insert should extend outwardlyto a location exterior to or beyond the substantially watertight sealmeans at the periphery of the headgear to insure the least likelihood ofwater leakage under the bonnet covering at the flap insert area. Zipperclosure means 36; may be fixed along lateral edges of the flap insert(that is, along lateral edges of the bonnet slit at the location of theinsert 35). Auxiliary fastener means, such as Velcro" fastener elements37 and 33, or analoguous mating elements which can be hooked together,may be employed at the perimeter edge of the bonnet to hold ends of thetubular chamber seal means 39 together.

While bonnet parts of the headgear may be formed out of flexible plasticfilms (including stretchible and resilient or rubbery organic plasticfilms such as butyl rubber films), it also is contemplated thatsemi-rigid thin plastic sheets (eigher clear or tinted and transparent,or opaque pigmented sheets) may be preformed or molded into a bonnetshape for the headgear. Transparent semi-rigid bonnets, suitably formedout of materials as aforenoted for making a sheath, are especiallyappealing to those who have groomed their hair and desire minimalcrushing or disruption of it, together with retention of the appearanceof hair (instead of a col ored scalp appearance), as they wear a bathingcap for a swim. Such semi-rigid bonnets are conveniently equipped withthe flap insert as illustrated in H6. 3. The semi-rigid bonnet issufficiently flexible to permit the slight bending or twisting of it togain the advantage of the flexible expansion feature of the insert 35;but the bonnet returns substantially to its original shape after beingplaced on ones head. Tubular chamber 39, with elastic press-band 30, maybe fixed along peripheral edges of this head covering; or anintermediate narrow flexible connector strip 41 (similar to 40 of FIG.may extend between the perimeter of the complete semi-rigid headcovering and the head-contacting flexible tubular chamber seal means 39.

Although the sheath may be formed by shaping or molding preformed flatplates or sheets into the shapes required, it is also contemplated thatthe sheath (or the shaped plates or sheets forming it) may be fabricatedby the molding, as by injection molding, of pellet-type or other rawplastic. Plates may be uniformly thick, or have thicker edges or bandsfor reinforcement.

There is thus taught herein a new sheath structure which permits nostrilbreath movement, and which relies upon water sloshing to remove anyresulting internal condensed fog or mist on eye-vision areas. Thepermitted nostril breath movement, even though extremely limited, doesreduce the tendency toward panic for an underwater swimmer, and isespecially important to those whose underwater efforts would necessarilybe cut short, or possibly prove fatal, but for the ability to gain thepsychological relief of a few nostril breath movements while below thesurface of the water. Where a bonnet is part of the headgear, the bonnetitself (in the space between it and the head of the individual) suitablyserves as a reservoir for receiving and giving up air for nostrilbreathing.

If desired, a passage from the nose accommodating portion to the upperperimeter of the sheath may be employed to port nostril breathunderneath a bonnet or to a special nostril breath reservoir, as taughtin my copending application of even date.

That which is claimed is:

1. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including asubstantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to beplaced in spaced relationship over the eyes and 'nose of an individualand head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member forsubstantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the spacebetween said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual,said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that itcomprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured noseaccommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each sideof said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portionsof said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of saidindividual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate memberextending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateralsheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent saideye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eye-visionarea, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned tocoincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, saidinner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof formating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeterportions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantiallywater-tight manher to said outer plate member at said perimeterportions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extendingperipherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeterportions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wallconsisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting ofsaid inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate memberbordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer platemember but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and theportions of said inner plate member contiguous to said borderingportions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer platemember than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess iswider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, saidchannel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as acontoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeterportion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, saidrecess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from oneportion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internalsurface of said eye-vision area.

2. The headgear of claim ll wherein said headcontacting peripheral meanscomprises a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form a tubularchamber extending about peripheral edge portions of said coveringmember, and a porous deformable and resilient organic body stripextending substantially throughout said tubular chamber and completelyenclosed therewithin.

3. The headgear of claim 2 additionally comprising openable andcloseable valve means for pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber toa higher degree of air pressure than at atmospheric condition.

4. The headgear of claim 2 hherein said tubular chamber is flexiblyfixed to lower perimeter areas of said sheath structure in a mannerpermitting adjust ment of the exact location of said sheath structurewith respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across theupper lip of an individual.

5. The headgear of claim 1 wherein said covering member consistsessentially of said plastic sheath structure.

6. The headgear of claim l wherein a single unitary outer plate formsthe outer plate member of both of said eye accommodating portions ofsaid sheath structure.

7. The headgear of claim ll wherein the perimeter portions of saidsheath structure are contoured for approximate fitting toward thosefacial area characterized as lying in a line approximately extendingacross tee upper lip, below cheekbones, across temple areas, and overeyebrows across the forehead.

8. The headgear of claim l wherein said protective overing memberadditionally comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to upper and lateralperimeter areas of said sheath structure.

9. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said bonnet is formed of transparentsemi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansioninsert extending from a location exterior to peripheral edge portionsthereof toward a medial area thereof, and zipper closure means fordrawing the edges of said bonnet along said expansion insert togetherafter said bonnet is placed on an individuals head.

10. The headgear of claim 8 wherein said headcontacting peripheral meansabout said covering member comprises a substantially water-tight sealmeans, said seal means being adapted to be confromed to the lid contourof the head of an individual at peripheral edge portions of saidcovering member, said seal means comprising a flexible conformable filmshaped to form a tubular chamber extending about said peripheral edgeportions of said protective covering member, and a porous deformable andresilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout saidtubular chamber and completely enclosed threrwithin.

ii. The headgear of claim g including cushioning in ternal projectionsinside bonnet portions of the protective covering member at approximatelocations adapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of ahuman head.

12. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member includinga substantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted tobe placed in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of anindividual, said sheath structure comprising an outwardly projectingcontoured nose accommodating portion and lateral eye accommodatingportions on each side of said nose accommodating portion, the lower edgeportion of said sheath structure being contoured to lie in a lineapproximately extending across the upper lip of the individual, andhead-contacting substantially watertight seal means at peripheral edgeportions of said covering member, said seal means being adapted to beconformed to the contour of the head of said individual at saidperipheral edge portions, and comprising a flexible conformable organicfilm shaped to form a substan tially water-impervious tubular chamberextending about said peripheral edge portions, and a porous deformableand resilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout saidtubular chamber and completely enclosed therewith, means flexiblysecuring said tubular chamber to the lower edge portion of said sheathstructure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exact location ofsaid sheath structure with respect to the exact location of said tubularchamber across the upper lip of the individual.

13. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said seal means additionallycomprises a strap member extending in longitudinal alignment to pressupon the exterior part of said body strip for increasing the pressureupon said body strip against portions of a user individuals headcontacted by said seal means.

lid. The headgear of claim i3 wherein said strap member comprises anelastic band.

115. The headgear of claim 12 additionally comprising valve means forpneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of airpressure than at atlid mospheric condition.

in. The headgear of claim l5 wherein said valve means comprises aflexible tube affixed at one end for communication with the interior ofsaid tubular chamber and adapted to be closed by folding the tube uponitself after oral inflation of said tubular chamber.

T7. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering membercompriss a haircovering bonnet.

it The headgear of claim 117 wherein said bonnet is formed of semi-rigidplastic.

119. The headgear of claim H7 wherein said bonnet is formed oftransparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shapedflexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior toperipheral edge portions of said covering member toward a medial area ofsaid bonnet, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of saidbonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placedon an individuals head.

20. The headgear of claim 12 wherein said protective covering memberconsists essentially of said semi-rigid plastic sheath structure.

211. The headgear of claim 32 wherein said protective covering membercomprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to said plastic sheath, with theperipheral edge portion of said protective covering member adapted toextend along a line about the head of a user individual approximatelydefined as across the upper lip, below the ears, and across the nape ofthe neck.

22. The headgear of claim 2i additionally comprising cushioning internalprojections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member atapproximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible basedepressions of a human head, said projections being immediatelycontiguous to said tubular chamber and coacting therewith to augmentsaid substantially watertight seal means.

23. The headgear of claim 21 wherein each said internal projectionconsists essentially of pocket means and an adjustable resilientcushioning member in said pocket means.

24. The headgear of claim ll wherein the internal annular channel recessof one said eye portion is a discrete entity separate from the internalannular channel recess of the other said eye portion.

25. The headgear of claim 243- wherein said inner plate member for eachsaid eye portion is sealed to said outer plate member at said noseaccommodating portion.

a; =3: i t

hmrsh STATES rlrrhr swim @hhlltlllh'tll @IF @CRWEMWN Patent No. 3, 755,819 Dated. September L1,, 1.973

lnventofls) Donald J. Douglas It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown "below:

Column 6, line 6L "Feigher", should read either Column 10, line 33"pie-shpaed, should read pieshaped Column 12, line 18, "cold" shouldread hold ----3 line 19, "reoes'", should read recess line 33,"hherein", should read wherein line hi3, "area", should read areas: lineM9, "tee" should read the line 53, overing", should read covering Column1h, line 8, "comprise", should read comprises Signed and sealed this26th day of February 197M...

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M..FLETCHER JRm ALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents F ORM PC4050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC suave-Pas U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE I959 0-355-334, v

1. Swimming headgear comprising a protective covering member including asubstantially semi-rigid organic plastic sheath structure adapted to beplaced in spaced relationship over the eyes and nose of an individual,and head-contacting peripheral means about said covering member forsubstantially excluding environmental water from entrance into the spacebetween said sheath structure and the eyes and nose of said individual,said semi-rigid sheath structure being characterized by the fact that itcomprises, in combination, an outwardly projecting contoured noseaccommodating portion, lateral eye accommodating portions on each sideof said nose accommodating portion, with the lateral perimeter portionsof said sheath structure being contoured toward temple areas of saidindividual, each said eye portion comprising (i) an outer plate memberextending from said nose accommodating portion to the respective lateralsheath perimeter portion contoured toward the temple area adjacent saideye portion, said outer plate member including a transparent eyevisionarea, (ii) an inner plate member having an opening therein aligned tocoincide over said eye-vision area and form a border thereabout, saidinner plate member having a contour at perimeter portions thereof formating with said outer plate member substantantially along perimeterportions of said outer plate member and being united in a substantiallywater-tight manner to said outer plate member at said perimeterportions, and (iii) an internal annular channel recess extendingperipherally outward from said eye-vision area to said mated perimeterportions, said channel recess being essentially defined by an outer wallconsisting of said outer plate member and an inner wall consisting ofsaid inner plate member, the portions of said inner plate memberbordering said eye-vision area being contoured toward said outer platemember but terminating in spaced relationship therefrom, and theportions of said inner plate member contiguous to said borderingportions being contoured to be more greatly spaced from said outer platemember than said bordering portions, whereby said channel recess iswider in said contiguous portions than said bordering portions, saidchannel recess being characterized by the fact that it extends as acontoured recess laterally rearward to said lateral sheath perimeterportion contoured toward the temple area adjacent said eye portion, saidrecess being adapted to oold reservoir water for sloshing from oneportion of said reces to another portion thereof across the internalsurface of said eye-vision area.
 2. The headgear of claim 1 wherein saidhead-contacting peripheral means comprises a flexible conformableorganic film shaped to form a tubular chamber extending about peripheraledge portions of said covering member, and a porous deformable andresilient organic body strip extending substantially throughout saidtubular chamber and completely enclosed therewithin.
 3. The headgear ofclaim 2 additionally comprising openable and closeable valve means forpneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree of airpressure than at atmospheric condition.
 4. The headgear of claim 2hherein said tubular chamber is flexibly fixed to lower perimeter areasof said sheath structure in a manner permitting adjustment of the exactlocation of said sheath structure with respect to the exact location ofsaid tubular chamber across the upper lip of an individual.
 5. Theheadgear of claim 1 wherein said covering member consists essentially ofsaid plastic sheath structure.
 6. The headgear of claim 1 wherein asingle unitary outer plate forms the outer plate member of both of saideye accommodating portions of said sheath structure.
 7. The headgear ofclaim 1 wherein the perimeter portions of said sheath structure arecontoured for apProximate fitting toward those facial area characterizedas lying in a line approximately extending across tee upper lip, belowcheekbones, across temple areas, and over eyebrows across the forehead.8. The headgear of claim 1 wherein said protective overing memberadditionally comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed to upper and lateralperimeter areas of said sheath structure.
 9. The headgear of claim 8wherein said bonnet is formed of transparent semi-rigid plastic and isequipped with a pie-shaped flexible expansion insert extending from alocation exterior to peripheral edge portions thereof toward a medialarea thereof, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of saidbonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placedon an individual''s head.
 10. The headgear of claim 8 wherein saidhead-contacting peripheral means about said covering member comprises asubstantially water-tight seal means, said seal means being adapted tobe confromed to the contour of the head of an individual at peripheraledge portions of said covering member, said seal means comprising aflexible conformable film shaped to form a tubular chamber extendingabout said peripheral edge portions of said protective covering member,and a porous deformable and resilient organic body strip extendingsubstantially throughout said tubular chamber and completely enclosedthrerwithin.
 11. The headgear of claim 8 including cushioning internalprojections inside bonnet portions of the protective covering member atapproximate locations adapted to extend over the mandible basedepressions of a human head.
 12. Swimming headgear comprising aprotective covering member including a substantially semi-rigid organicplastic sheath structure adapted to be placed in spaced relationshipover the eyes and nose of an individual, said sheath structurecomprising an outwardly projecting contoured nose accommodating portionand lateral eye accommodating portions on each side of said noseaccommodating portion, the lower edge portion of said sheath structurebeing contoured to lie in a line approximately extending across theupper lip of the individual, and head-contacting substantiallywater-tight seal means at peripheral edge portions of said coveringmember, said seal means being adapted to be conformed to the contour ofthe head of said individual at said peripheral edge portions, andcomprising a flexible conformable organic film shaped to form asubstantially water-impervious tubular chamber extending about saidperipheral edge portions, and a porous deformable and resilient organicbody strip extending substantially throughout said tubular chamber andcompletely enclosed therewith, means flexibly securing said tubularchamber to the lower edge portion of said sheath structure in a mannerpermitting adjustment of the exact location of said sheath structurewith respect to the exact location of said tubular chamber across theupper lip of the individual.
 13. The headgear of claim 12 wherein saidseal means additionally comprises a strap member extending inlongitudinal alignment to press upon the exterior part of said bodystrip for increasing the pressure upon said body strip against portionsof a user individual''s head contacted by said seal means.
 14. Theheadgear of claim 13 wherein said strap member comprises an elasticband.
 15. The headgear of claim 12 additionally comprising valve meansfor pneumatic inflation of said tubular chamber to a higher degree ofair pressure than at atmospheric condition.
 16. The headgear of claim 15wherein said valve means comprises a flexible tube affixed at one endfor communication with the interior of said tubular chamber and adaptedto be closed by folding the tube upon itself after oral inflation ofsaid tubular chamber.
 17. The headgear of claim 12 wherein saidprotective covering member compriss a hair-covering bonnet.
 18. Theheadgear of claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed of semi-rigidplastic.
 19. The headgear of Claim 17 wherein said bonnet is formed oftransparent semi-rigid plastic and is equipped with a pie-shapedflexible expansion insert extending from a location exterior toperipheral edge portions of said covering member toward a medial area ofsaid bonnet, and zipper closure means for drawing the edges of saidbonnet along said expansion insert together after said bonnet is placedon an individual''s head.
 20. The headgear of claim 12 wherein saidprotective covering member consists essentially of said semi-rigidplastic sheath structure.
 21. The headgear of claim 12 wherein saidprotective covering member comprises a hair-covering bonnet fixed tosaid plastic sheath, with the peripheral edge portion of said protectivecovering member adapted to extend along a line about the head of a userindividual approximately defined as across the upper lip, below theears, and across the nape of the neck.
 22. The headgear of claim 21additionally comprising cushioning internal projections inside bonnetportions of the protective covering member at approximate locationsadapted to extend over the mandible base depressions of a human head,said projections being immediately contiguous to said tubular chamberand coacting therewith to augment said substantially water-tight sealmeans.
 23. The headgear of claim 21 wherein each said internalprojection consists essentially of pocket means and an adjustableresilient cushioning member in said pocket means.
 24. The headgear ofclaim 1 wherein the internal annular channel recess of one said eyeportion is a discrete entity separate from the internal annular channelrecess of the other said eye portion.
 25. The headgear of claim 24wherein said inner plate member for each said eye portion is sealed tosaid outer plate member at said nose accommodating portion.